Tool foe distributing linotype



(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 1.

W LYON. TOOL FOR DISTRIBUTING LINOTYPE.

No. 588,770. PatentdAug. 24, 1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. LYON. TOOL FOR DISTRIBUTING LINOTYPE.

No. 588,770. Patented Aug. 24, 1897.

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UNITED v STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lVI-IITNEY LYON OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

TOOL FOR DISTRIBUTING LINOTYPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 588,770, dated August 24, 1897. Application filed May 29,1897. Serial No. 63 8,676. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known thatI, WHIT EY LYON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new,

and useful Improvement in Methods of and Tools for Distributing Type, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

The present invention relates to the method of and means for leading a column'of linotype or similar printing matter. As is Well understood, a column of such printing matter consists of a series of slugs bearing each a line or portion thereof and being usually (though not always) separated by spacingleads. After an impression of such printing matter has been taken it is customary to unload the slugsin other words, to separate the slugs and leads, so that the slugs may be remelted for use in the linotype or similar machine and the leads be preserved for spaein g or leading other and new matter. This unleading of the printing matter has heretofore been done by hand, the operator separating and distributing the leads into one common pile or receptacle and the slugs into another. This in an ordinary printingoffice means practically the employment of one or more persons to do this particular Work.

It is the object of my invention to save to a material extent the cost of the time commonly expended in thus unleading or distributing printing matter of the linotype or other similar character.

To this end the linotype-slu gs are each provided with an open slot or groove, and the leads are perforated or provided with a hole positioned so as to come opposite the slot in a slug whenever a slug and alead are brought into adjacent position, as in the case of acolumn oftype matter; also, I provide a rod or rod-like tool adapted to pass through the slots in the slugs and through the holes in the spacing plates or leads throughout the whole column or a part thereof, as the case may be. Such tool, thus passed through a column of type matter, engages all the leads, and the operator by lifting the column and holding the tool can permit the slugs to fall away from the leads, thus leaving the latter strung on the tool ready for subsequent use.'

Another and subsidiary feature of my invention consists of a trough or receiver which, 5 5

when desired, may be used to pass under and receive a column or less of type matter of the kind referred to, this trough being con structed to permit the aforesaid tool to be passed through the slugs and leads of column,

for the purpose already set forth.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents in perspective a column of type matter composed of linotype-slu gs shaped according to my invention and spaced or separated view of a linotype-slug constructed in accord- 7o ance with my invention. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a lead constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a trough or receiver for taking up and moving a column of linotype matter, this view alsoshowing the unleading-tool as having been passed through the slugs and leads preparatory to their unleading or distribution.

sents a linotype-slug which is of the usual form and construction, except that it is provided with an open slot B, preferably located near its loweror bottom edge, the edge opposite the upper or printing edge, although this 8 5 slot can be placed in either end of the slug.

0 represents one of the leads, which is usually composed of brass or any other suitable metal, and is provided with a hole D, (or,

preferably, two holes, as shown,) located so that when a lead and a slug are placed side by side in printing position such hole will fall opposite the slot in the slug, as seen, in Fig. 1.

E indicates the stripping or unloading tool. 5 This tool consists of .a rod of size properly corresponding to the holes D in the leads, and of any desired length-such, for instance, as the length of an ordinary column of type matter.

in Fig. 1, to receive a retaining spring-clip H,

Referring to the views in detail, A repre- 8c F is the handle'of this tool, and e the point thereof, which is slotted, as shown or is threaded to receive a nut I, as shown in Fig. 4.

J is a trough or receiver used to take up and remove the type from a column or portion thereof of printing matter. It is open at one end K and closed at the other, but the walls of the closed end are slotted at L for the free passage of the tool E.

After acolumn of linotype or similar printing matter has been used and it is desired to distribute or uulead the same and after it has been freed from the usual clampingframe the first few slugs and leads at one end of the column may be raised slightly and the open end of the trough J pushed under the slugs and leads so raised, whereupon the trough may be pushed along the length of the column to pick up the slugs and leads thereof to the full length of the column or for any such portion thereof as may be desired. Then the tool E will be inserted through the slots of the slugs and the holes of the leads throughout the column, the locking device, such as H or I, being fixed to the end thereof. Then the operator can lift the column of type matter and, holding the stripping-tool and trough, can turn the column over and thus permit the slugs to fall away from the leads, the latter being retained or threaded on the stripping-tool, which can be then handed over for use for leading new printing matter.

I do not deem it necessary that the trough should be used in all cases. In most cases it will sulfice to employ the stripping-tool as shown in Fig. 1that is, without the use of the trough. In this latter case care will have to be taken to hold the column of type together at the time of lifting it from the frame and to the posit-ion where the leads and slugs are allowed to separate. The trough is mainly useful in cases where it is desired to take out a portion of a column and where, if the stripping-tool be alone used, there is likelihood of disturbing the type matter adjacent to that beingremoved.

\Vhat is claimed as new is- 1. In combination notched linotype-slugs, and leads having openings registering with the notches of the slugs, as and for the purposes specified.

2. In combination linotype-slugs having an edge notched or cut away, leads for spacing said slugs whose edges project beyond the cut-away portion of the slugs, and means for engaging the projecting parts of the leads to withdraw them from theslugs.

3. In combination with a series of slotted slugs perforated leads, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth, of a rod or similar tool device adapted to pass through the holes and thread the leads of a column of linotype or similar printing matter.

\VHITNEY LYON.

Vitnesses R0131. F. GAYLORD, JAMES N. OATLow. 

